The big moon was gone, but plenty of strata shone brightly the night of March 25 at the Palm Beach International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Splash, poolside at the Boca Raton Resort & Club.
Filmmakers mingled with fans and festival supporters. Soap star Tristan Rogers emceed. Local boy Dennis Lambert, himself the subject of a festival documentary, sang a few of the many hits he wrote, including Rhinestone Cowboy and Ain’t No Woman. (He’s going out on tour!) And Richard Jenkins, modern cinema’s “everyman,” accepted the festival’s Golden Palm award.
In the past decade, the veteran actor has appeared in more than 50 films. Most don’t see that many roles in a lifetime.
“He’s good because he’s so real, so down to earth, festival Executive Director Randi Emerman said, “even when he plays a bad guy.”
Perhaps that’s because Jenkins, who was accompanied by his wife, Sharon, isn’t the typical Hollywood type. Far from it: They have homes in Rhode Island and in Naples —Florida, not Italy.
“If it wasn’t for festivals like this,” he said, “independent films wouldn’t exist, it’s an honor for me to say thank you.”
Tristan Rogers
Seems like everywhere you turn these days, you’ll find a film festival. No sooner does the Palm Beach International Festival wrap than two others hit the silver screen.
The first Palm Beach Women’s International Festival opens April 7 for a four-day run at Muvico Parisian in West Palm Beach and the Lake Worth Playhouse. Opening film is The Whistleblower, best picture winner at the Palm Springs Festival. Hannah Free, the producer, and star Sharon Gless will be honored at the film’s screening at 7 p.m. ,Saturday, April 8, at the Compass Community Center in Lake Worth. A party in Gless’ honor will follow at The Cottage in Lake Worth.
The festival boasts 10 world premieres, seven U.S. premieres and films from 15 nations. Details at www.pbwiff.com.
From April 9-17, we get the Sixth Annual Downtown Boca Film Festival. Wait a minute! A festival in Boca? Well, the festival’s the same, just the name and the location have changed. For five years it was the Delray Beach Film Festival and, in fact, many of the films will be screened at the Movies of Delray.
The Boca festival opens with “Casino Night in Old Hollywood” at the Mizner Park Cultural Arts Center. Michael Stone, one of the forces behind Pineapple Groove in Delray, will host the party with sister Kelly Stone-Singer. No confirmation yet that their sister Sharon will make an appearance.
“She’s making a film right now, so we don’t know if she can get away or not,” Michael said.
The event will benefit Planet Hope, founded by the Stones to help homeless children and their mothers. The black-tie-optional party will include food from local restaurants, silent and live auction, a casino and entertainment by 44th Street. Tickets are $50 in advance, $65 after April 4.
Several additional events are planned, including Reel to Runway fashion show on April 11 at Mizner Park ($35), filmmaker workshops, and parties every night. The screening schedule, however, was not available at press time. Check out www.dbff.us for details.
Golden Palm recipient Richard Jenkins (center) with wife,
Sharon, talks with filmmaker Larry Marshall at the Palm Beach
International Film Festival’s Silver Screen Splash
at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. Photo by Thom Smith
A day for legends. Two of football’s greatest coaches, enjoying a little breakfast at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, then taking a few friendly jabs at each other and offering some insight. The occasion was the Boca YMCA’s annual Prayer Breakfast. The legends: Howard Schnellenberger and Bobby Bowden.
Schnellenberger helped guide the Miami Dolphins to NFL titles and led the University of Miami to a national collegiate championship. Bowden won two titles at Florida State University.
Now Schnellenberger is working his magic at Florida Atlantic University, building the program and a stadium from scratch. “It’ll be ready next fall,” he says of the stadium, its towers easily visible from I-95. “Even better, it’s ahead of schedule and under budget.”
Bowden, who retired, not exactly willingly, last year, said he’s on the road three or four days a week, but instead of recruiting, he’s making speeches. “I do get a chance to play golf a little more,” he confessed between bites, “but I’m not beating anybody.”
He turned a little more serious during his address, stressing the need for opportunity and responsibility.
“We need help for our young people; we need help for our families,” he said, asking rhetorically if young college players have changed in the half century since he started coaching.
“No, boys haven’t changed … but where the heck are their daddies? Who’s gonna raise these boys? Boys haven’t changed; parents have changed.
“Put a ball in their hands, and I don’t care if it’s a football, a baseball, a basketball or what, it’ll keep ’em occupied.”
A website known as foursquare.com has declared Boca Raton the rudest city in Florida and one of the rudest in the world. The site based its conclusion on the number of curse words used in 400 million reports from 6.5 million subscribers worldwide. The more swear words used, the analysts concluded, the ruder the city. Manchester, England, came out on top, followed by El Paso, Texas, and Pittsburgh. Boca ranked 12th, Miami 18th and Jacksonville 20th. Seven of the top 20 were in California, led by Riverside (No. 4). Boston came in 19th, but surprisingly New York state was represented only by Staten Island (No. 17). Foursquare, by the way, has headquarters in Manhattan. $#$%&$@!@.
Another wine event — maybe it should be called “Hair of the Dog” — is the Second Annual Fine Wine & Canines from 5:30 to 7:30 Thursday, April 14, at Monument Plaza in downtown Boca. Dogs will compete in best-dressed and owner-look-alike contests, and humans will enjoy libations from 15 wineries and appetizers from area restaurants. Benefits PROPEL — People Reaching Out to Provide Education and Leadership — which offers opportunities to underprivileged residents to complete core education, gain vocational or technical training or go on to college.
Board President Andrew Scott has vowed to top the inaugural crowd of 400. Tickets are $45 in advance, $55 at the door. Call (561) 955-8553 or see www.propel
yourfuture.com.
Thom Smith is a freelance writer. He can be reached at thomsmith@ymail.com.
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